Core Viewpoint - The company Zhiyuan Huazhang has become the first publicly listed company in the global large model sector, achieving a market capitalization of HKD 57.9 billion, with significant returns for early investors, but faces challenges due to rising costs and increasing losses [1][2]. Group 1: IPO and Market Performance - Zhiyuan Huazhang's IPO was priced at HKD 116.2 per share, raising a total of HKD 4.348 billion, ranking fourth in terms of fundraising scale among Hong Kong IPOs in 2026 [2]. - The company's market valuation post-IPO was approximately HKD 579 billion, reflecting a 2.1 times increase from its last funding round valuation of HKD 244 billion [2][3]. - The stock price rose by 13.17% on its first trading day, indicating strong market interest despite initial fluctuations [1]. Group 2: Financial Performance and Growth - Revenue for Zhiyuan Huazhang grew from HKD 57.4 million in 2022 to HKD 312 million in 2024, with a projected revenue of HKD 1.33 billion for 2025 [15][17]. - The company has a significant number of institutional clients, increasing from 48 in 2022 to over 12,000 by mid-2025, driven by its cloud deployment services [18][19]. - The revenue from localized deployment, which serves B2B clients, has maintained a gross margin above 50%, while cloud deployment revenue has rapidly increased, contributing to overall growth [17][18]. Group 3: Investment and Valuation - The company has attracted substantial investment, with 11 cornerstone investors subscribing to nearly 70% of the new shares, resulting in an overall floating profit of 3.4 times for 57 external investors [3][4]. - The valuation of Zhiyuan Huazhang corresponds to a price-to-sales ratio of approximately 147 times based on 2024 revenue, which is higher than some competitors [3][4]. - The company has completed 14 rounds of financing, raising over HKD 8.36 billion, with a valuation increase of 60 times since its inception [31][32]. Group 4: Research and Development - Zhiyuan Huazhang's R&D expenditure significantly exceeds its revenue, with R&D costs reaching HKD 21.95 billion in 2024, which is seven times its revenue for that year [22][23]. - The company employs a large R&D team, comprising 74.4% of its total workforce, emphasizing its commitment to innovation [23]. - The company holds numerous patents and has a strong technical foundation, collaborating closely with Tsinghua University's research teams [20][21]. Group 5: Challenges and Risks - Despite rapid revenue growth, the company faces challenges with rising operational costs, particularly in computing services, which have surged to over HKD 15 billion [24][25]. - The gross margin for cloud deployment has declined significantly, indicating potential profitability issues in a competitive market [18][24]. - The company's total liabilities reached HKD 112.52 billion, with a net asset value of -HKD 61.51 billion, raising concerns about its financial sustainability [1].

Investment Rating - The report does not provide a specific investment rating for the company [1]. Core Insights - The company, Zhipu AI, is a leading independent general large model developer in China, established in 2019, and has developed a unique General Language Model (GLM) framework that excels in long text understanding and logical reasoning [6][12]. - Zhipu AI's flagship products, GLM-4.5 and GLM-4.7, have achieved top rankings in international benchmark tests and have gained significant recognition in the global developer community [6][14]. - The company has a strong market position, ranking first among independent general large model developers in China with a market share of 6.6% as of 2024 [6][15]. - Zhipu AI plans to go public on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange on January 8, 2026, with an IPO price of HKD 116.20 per share, aiming to raise approximately HKD 4.3 billion [6][15]. Summary by Sections 1. Company Overview - Zhipu AI is built on technology from Tsinghua University and aims to compete with OpenAI, focusing on a self-regressive fill-in-the-blank GLM framework [12][16]. - The company has released several significant models, including the GLM-130B, which marked its entry into the mainstream large language model market [12][16]. 2. Business Model and Operations - The business model is centered around Model as a Service (MaaS), offering both localized and cloud deployment options [21][24]. - Localized deployment accounts for a significant portion of revenue, with high margins, while cloud deployment is rapidly growing and aims to capture a larger market share [24][25]. 3. Historical Financial Analysis - Revenue has shown rapid growth, with projections indicating revenues of CNY 785 million in 2025 and CNY 1.55 billion in 2026, reflecting a compound annual growth rate of over 130% from 2022 to 2024 [1][30]. - The company has been operating at a loss due to substantial R&D investments, with cumulative R&D expenses exceeding CNY 4.4 billion from 2022 to 2024 [6][30]. 4. Core Competitiveness - Zhipu AI's competitive edge lies in its fully self-developed technology system, leading model performance, and a robust open-source ecosystem [38][39]. - The GLM series models have demonstrated significant advantages in various applications, including multi-modal understanding and generation [39][40]. 5. Profitability Forecast and Investment Suggestions - The company is expected to achieve revenues of CNY 7.9 billion in 2025, CNY 15.5 billion in 2026, and CNY 32.2 billion in 2027, with a gradual shift towards cloud-driven revenue [6][7]. - The overall gross margin is projected to reach 50% by 2025, with improvements in cloud margins as the business scales [6][7].

Core Viewpoint - The company Zhiyu Huazhang Technology Co., Ltd. ("Zhiyu") is set to launch its IPO, aiming to raise approximately HKD 4.3 billion, marking it as the first publicly listed company focused on general large models in the AI sector, providing a quantifiable valuation benchmark for the industry [2][6]. Company Overview - Zhiyu is a typical "Tsinghua system" AI company, originating from the knowledge engineering laboratory of Tsinghua University's computer science department, and focuses on developing its own General Language Model (GLM) series [3]. - The company has developed a comprehensive model matrix covering language, code, multimodal, and intelligent agents, positioning itself against OpenAI's technology [3]. Revenue and Financial Performance - Zhiyu's revenue structure has shifted from a heavy reliance on localized deployment (97.6% in 2022) to a more diversified model, with localized deployment accounting for 69.4% and cloud deployment for 30.6% in the latest reporting period [4]. - The company reported revenues of RMB 57.409 million in 2022, projected to grow to RMB 312.414 million by 2024, while also incurring significant losses, with adjusted net losses of RMB 974.17 million in 2022 and projected losses of RMB 2.466 billion in 2024 [5][6]. Market Position and Client Base - Zhiyu has accumulated over 12,000 enterprise clients and 45 million developers, establishing a business model centered around Model as a Service (MaaS), with localized deployment making up 84.8% of its revenue [6]. - The company holds a 6.6% market share among independent general model developers in China, ranking first in the country and second globally [3]. IPO and Fund Utilization - The IPO proceeds will allocate approximately 70% (around HKD 2.9 billion) for AI model research and development, 10% for optimizing the MaaS platform, and the remaining 20% for business partnerships and operational expenses [8]. - The IPO is seen as a means to continue investing heavily in R&D and scaling operations, aiming to establish a clear path to profitability within the next 2-3 years [8]. Challenges and Industry Outlook - The company faces challenges in transitioning from a "high growth + significant loss" model to a profitable one, while also needing to optimize cost structures and enhance operational efficiency [9]. - The industry may enter a consolidation phase as leading model companies successfully IPO, potentially concentrating resources among firms with both technological and capital advantages [9].

Core Viewpoint - The company Zhiyu Huazhang Technology Co., Ltd. (智谱) has officially launched its IPO process in Hong Kong, aiming to raise approximately HKD 4.3 billion with an expected market capitalization exceeding HKD 51.1 billion upon listing [2][3]. Group 1: IPO Details - Zhiyu plans to issue a total of 37.42 million H shares, with 1.87 million shares available for public offering in Hong Kong and 35.55 million shares for international offering [3]. - The IPO price is set at HKD 116.20 per share, leading to an estimated fundraising scale of around HKD 4.3 billion after deducting related issuance costs [3]. - The company has raised a cumulative financing amount of approximately CNY 8.34 billion in the private market, with a latest valuation of CNY 24.38 billion, indicating a near doubling of its market value as it approaches listing [3]. Group 2: Investor Participation - The cornerstone investor lineup is notable, with total subscriptions amounting to HKD 2.98 billion, accounting for nearly 70% of the total issuance scale [4]. - Participating cornerstone investors include 11 institutions such as JSC International Investment Fund SPC, JinYi Capital Multi-Strategy Fund SPC, and others [4]. Group 3: Market Context and Challenges - The high proportion of cornerstone subscriptions comes amid a challenging environment for tech assets in the Hong Kong stock market, highlighting the significance of this IPO in the context of the "global large model first stock" race [5]. - The company faces ongoing challenges in the AI large model sector, with some competitors opting to exit the foundational model competition and focus on vertical applications [7]. - Zhiyu primarily targets enterprise-level solutions (to B), having already implemented services in various industries including finance, internet, smart devices, and healthcare [7]. Group 4: Financial Performance - In the first half of the year, Zhiyu reported revenues of CNY 191 million but incurred a significant loss of CNY 2.36 billion, with R&D costs reaching CNY 1.6 billion [7]. - The market is shifting towards a clearer focus on model capabilities and commercialization pathways, which poses challenges even for leading companies in the sector [7]. Group 5: Technological Advancements - Zhiyu's technology framework is centered around the GLM model, which integrates autoregressive generation and masked prediction for unified modeling of understanding and generation tasks [11]. - The company has released several iterations of its GLM series, with the latest GLM-4.7 model showing significant improvements in various benchmarks compared to its predecessors [12][16]. - The company has also developed multimodal models and an AI agent model named AutoGLM, which supports over 8,000 institutional clients and approximately 80 million devices [17]. Group 6: Future Outlook - The transition to the public market is seen as a critical test for the company, as it will face scrutiny regarding its high R&D investments, rising computing costs, and the still-evolving commercialization path for general large models [17].

Core Insights - The article discusses the challenges faced by Zhipu AI as it seeks to go public amidst a changing landscape in the Chinese AI industry, highlighting the shift from a focus on technology to the necessity of generating cash flow [1][2] Group 1: Company Background and Development - Zhipu AI, founded by a team from Tsinghua University, has been labeled as a "national algorithm hope" and has developed several commercially viable large models, including the GLM series [3][4] - The company has transitioned from a research project to a unicorn and is now the first in China to pursue an IPO in the large model sector [1][4] - Zhipu AI's technological advancements have positioned it alongside major players like Baidu and Alibaba in performance rankings [4] Group 2: Commercialization Challenges - The company faces a disconnect between its research-driven approach and the market's demand for practical solutions, leading to delays in commercialization compared to competitors [6][10] - Zhipu AI's initial focus on proving algorithmic capabilities has resulted in a lack of attention to customer needs, impacting its revenue generation [7][11] - The shift from a research narrative to a commercial narrative is essential for Zhipu AI as it navigates the pressures of profitability and customer acquisition [9][10] Group 3: Financial and Market Dynamics - The IPO is seen as a necessary step for survival rather than a celebratory milestone, reflecting the tightening capital environment and the need for stable cash flow [2][20] - Zhipu AI's valuation has been significantly adjusted, with estimates dropping from approximately 250 billion RMB to between 100 billion and 200 billion RMB as the market shifts focus from narrative to financial performance [19][20] - The company must demonstrate its ability to generate consistent revenue and manage customer relationships effectively to satisfy investor expectations post-IPO [19][30] Group 4: Competitive Landscape and Future Outlook - Zhipu AI's future competition will not only come from startups but also from established tech giants like Baidu, Alibaba, and Tencent, which have substantial resources [26][31] - The company needs to establish a unique position within the ecosystem by offering capabilities that are difficult for larger competitors to replicate [32][39] - The transition from a research-focused entity to a commercially viable platform is critical for Zhipu AI to thrive in a rapidly evolving market [34][39]

Core Viewpoint - Both Zhipu and MiniMax, two AI model unicorns, have reportedly passed the Hong Kong Stock Exchange hearing, indicating their readiness for public listing [1][2]. Group 1: Zhipu Overview - Zhipu, established in 2019, is one of the "Six Little Tigers" in large models, having developed the GLM-130B bilingual pre-trained model and the ChatGLM dialogue model [4]. - The company has generated over 100 million RMB (approximately 14 million USD) in annual recurring revenue (ARR) from its software tools and model business [4]. - Zhipu aims for over 100% revenue growth by 2025 and is diversifying its revenue structure, targeting a 50% contribution from its API business [4]. - The API platform currently serves over 2.7 million paying customers, including major Chinese tech firms [4]. - In September, Zhipu launched an AI-driven coding tool subscription plan priced at 20 RMB per month, significantly lower than competitors [5]. - The company has completed 17 rounds of financing, with the latest round in July raising 1 billion RMB [5][6]. Group 2: MiniMax Overview - MiniMax, founded in 2021, has developed a series of multimodal general models, showcasing strong capabilities in code and agent functions [9]. - The MiniMax M2 model ranks among the top five globally on the Artificial Analysis (AA) leaderboard, establishing itself in the first tier of text models [10]. - MiniMax's investor base includes prominent firms such as Alibaba, Hillhouse Capital, and Tencent, with a recent C round financing in July raising nearly 300 million USD, leading to a valuation of 4 billion USD [10].

Core Insights - The company Zhiyu, one of the "AI Six Dragons," is facing layoffs ahead of its IPO, but it claims that these rumors are isolated incidents and that there are currently around 50 job openings available [1] - Zhiyu has submitted its listing guidance to the Beijing Securities Regulatory Bureau, with China International Capital Corporation as its advisory firm [1] - The company has recently posted job openings for various positions, including algorithm engineers, product managers, and sales roles, totaling 47 positions [1][7] Company Overview - Zhiyu, officially known as Beijing Zhiyu Huazhang Technology Co., Ltd., was established in 2019 and is headquartered in Beijing, originating from the technology transfer of Tsinghua University's Knowledge Engineering Laboratory [7] - The founding team includes notable figures such as Chief Scientist Tang Jie, Chairman Liu Debing, CEO Zhang Peng, and President Wang Shaolan, with Tang having previously served as a professor at Tsinghua University [7] Product Development - The company has developed a product matrix that includes AIGC models such as Zhiyu Qingyan, CodeGeeX, CogVLM, and CogView, and has launched a large model MaaS open platform [8] - On September 30, Zhiyu released and open-sourced its next-generation large model GLM-4.6, which reportedly achieved a 27% improvement in core capabilities compared to its predecessor GLM-4.5 [8] Financial Background - In March, Zhiyu completed a strategic financing round exceeding 1 billion RMB, with participation from various investment firms, indicating strong financial backing [8] - The company has completed over 10 rounds of financing, attracting investments from well-known institutions such as Meituan, Ant Group, Alibaba, Tencent, Xiaomi, and Sequoia [8] Industry Challenges - Domestic large model startups, including Zhiyu, are facing multiple challenges, including difficulties in transitioning technology from labs to real-world applications and low consumer willingness to pay [9] - The company must navigate pressures from larger tech giants like Baidu, Alibaba, and Huawei, which have advantages in data, scenarios, and funding [9] - Industry predictions suggest that only a few foundational large models will survive, emphasizing the need for Zhiyu to differentiate itself in technology and application [9]

Core Viewpoint - The company Zhiyu, one of the "AI Six Dragons," is facing rumors of layoffs before its IPO, but it claims to have nearly 50 job openings available, indicating ongoing recruitment efforts [2][12]. Company Overview - Zhiyu, officially known as Beijing Zhiyu Huazhang Technology Co., Ltd., was established in 2019 and is headquartered in Beijing. It is a leading player in the domestic large model sector and the first among the "AI Six Dragons" to apply for an IPO [12]. - The founding team includes notable figures such as Chief Scientist and Founder Tang Jie, Chairman Liu Debing, CEO Zhang Peng, and President Wang Shaolan, with backgrounds in Tsinghua University [12]. Recruitment and Job Openings - Zhiyu has recently announced 47 job openings across various categories, including algorithm engineers, engineering and development roles, product and design positions, and sales and solutions roles [2][12]. Financial Background - In March, Zhiyu completed a strategic financing round exceeding 1 billion RMB, with participation from several well-known investment firms, indicating strong financial backing [13]. - The company has completed over 10 rounds of financing, attracting investments from major players such as Meituan, Ant Group, Alibaba, Tencent, Xiaomi, and Sequoia [13]. Product Development - Zhiyu has developed a product matrix that includes AIGC models such as Zhiyu Qingyan, CodeGeeX, CogVLM, and CogView. Recently, it released and open-sourced a new generation large model, GLM-4.6, which reportedly shows a 27% improvement in core capabilities compared to its predecessor [13]. Industry Challenges - Domestic large model startups, including Zhiyu, are facing multiple challenges, such as the difficulty of transitioning models from laboratory settings to real-world applications, low consumer willingness to pay, and the pressure from larger tech companies like Baidu, Alibaba, and Huawei [14]. - The founder of Zero One Wanwu, Li Kaifu, predicts that only a few companies, including DeepSeek, Alibaba, and ByteDance, will remain in the competitive landscape of foundational large models [14].

Group 1 - Beijing Zhiyu Huazhang Technology Co., Ltd. (referred to as "Zhiyu") is considering moving its IPO plan from mainland China to Hong Kong, potentially raising around $300 million (approximately HKD 2.34 billion) [1] - Zhiyu is preparing for both Hong Kong and A-share listings, with a higher probability of an A-share listing [1] - The company is one of several Chinese startups attempting to compete globally with OpenAI [1] Group 2 - Zhiyu focuses on developing a new generation of cognitive intelligent large models, including the bilingual pre-trained model GLM-130B and the dialogue model ChatGLM [2] - The company has created a matrix of AIGC models and products, including AI efficiency assistant Zhiyu Qingyan, CodeGeeX, CogVLM, and CogView [2] - Zhiyu promotes a "Model as a Service" (MaaS) market concept, providing a platform for efficient and generalized AI development [2] Group 3 - Zhiyu has undergone several rounds of financing, with investors including Meituan, Ant Group, Alibaba, Tencent, Xiaomi, Sequoia, Hillhouse, and others [3]

作者｜ Stone Jin 微信公众号｜ipozaozhidao 第一家正式启动IPO流程的"大模型创业公司"。 本文为IPO早知道原创 据 IPO早知道消息， 北京智谱华章科技股份有限公司 （以下简称 " 智谱 "）于2025年3月31日同中 金公司签署辅导协议，正式启动 A 股 IPO进程。 这意味着，智谱成为 "大模型创业公司"中第一家正式启动上市流程的企业 。 成立于 2019年的智谱 致力于打造新一代认知智能大模型 。早在 2020年 年 底 ，智谱就研 发 了 GLM预训练架构， 并于 2021年训练完成百亿参数模型GLM-10B，同年利用MoE架构成功训练出收 敛的万亿稀疏模型，2022年研发了中英双语千亿级超大规模预训练模型GLM-130B并开源。2023 年，智谱推出千亿基座对话模型ChatGLM并两次升级，开源版本的ChatGLM-6B让大模型开发者的 本地微调和部署成为可能 。 2024年1月，智谱推出新一代基座大模型GLM-4，整体性能相比上一代大幅提升；6月开源GLM-4- 9B及视觉模型GLM-4V-9B，多模态能力媲美GPT-4V；7 月推出视频生成模型CogVideoX，推理速 ...